Study: Women Aged 35-49 Face High Infertility Risk
A recent study published in the leading medical journal The Lancet has delivered significant findings for the field of reproductive health. Citing Euro News, researchers estimate that the number of women experiencing infertility globally will soar to nearly 80 million cases within the next decade. This figure represents an almost 1.5-fold increase compared to 2023 data, largely driven by the trend of delaying pregnancy.
Based on an analysis of data from the 2023 Global Burden of Disease study covering 204 countries and territories, this surge primarily affects the 35 to 49 age group. In 2023, there were approximately 53.50 million cases of infertility in this cohort. However, this number is projected to skyrocket to nearly 80 million by 2036, with the sharpest increase expected among women aged 35 to 39.
The study authors explain that natural biological factors become the greatest obstacle when a woman decides to postpone pregnancy as she ages. This reduces fertility, increases the risk of miscarriage, and lowers the success rate of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) at an older age.
‘With the acceleration of population ageing and socio-economic transitions, the number of women exposed to infertility risk at an older age continues to rise, making it an increasingly important public health issue,’ wrote the Chinese researchers who led the study.
This rising infertility trend is most pronounced in developed and rapidly developing countries, where social and demographic changes are occurring simultaneously. More people are now choosing to marry and start families at a more mature age. At the same time, greater awareness of reproductive health means more couples are actively seeking medical help. Unfortunately, this awareness is not always matched by ease of access. In many countries, fertility testing and treatment remain very expensive, limited, and difficult to obtain. As a result, public demand for medical care is growing far faster than the availability of services.
Nevertheless, experts suggest the solution cannot rely solely on medical technology. Rocío Núñez Calonge, a biologist and fertility expert not involved in the research, stressed the importance of structural improvements in society. ‘In countries like Spain, we also have to address the social factors that cause people to delay childbearing. This includes work-life balance, economic stability, and institutional support so that couples feel ready and secure to have children at a younger age.’
It should be noted that infertility is not solely a women’s issue. Global data shows that around one in six people worldwide will experience infertility at some point in their lives, affecting an estimated 8 to 12 per cent of couples of reproductive age globally. Through these findings, experts hope that governments around the world will begin designing more family-friendly social policies to help address future reproductive challenges.